The Turtle Mound Murder (A Daffodils Mystery) (Paperback)

by Mary Clay (Author) "Damn, girl, you look like hell!..." (more)
Key Phrases: licentious scum, turtle mound, smudge stick, Deputy Moore, New Smyrna Beach, The Riverview (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"... a solid first mystery that is light and accentuated with the familiar mannerisms of Southern Women. ... A fun book." -- Southern Halifax Magazine

"Much charm and promise ... a crisp pace with plenty of humor." 4 stars -- Romantic Times BookClub

Witty and hilarious, The Turtle Mound Murder engages the reader from the very first page. ... a great read! -- Midwest Book Review, April 2003

Product Description
IS THERE LIFE AFTER DIVORCE? YOU BET!

Meet the DAFFODILS*

(*Divorced And Finally Free Of Deceitful, Insensitive, Licentious Scum)

Rebecca Leigh Stratton is divorced, depressed, and thoroughly disgusted. Thanks to her two-timing, asset-hiding, lawyer husband, Leigh faces the prospect of starting over at forty-six. Fortunately, her sassy, Southern sorority sisters, Penny Sue Parker and Ruthie Nichols, are old hands at divorce. The three single-again ladies take off for New Smyrna Beach, their college-days haunt. What they don't bargain for are old flames, fist fights, and gunfire. And, that's just the first day!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: IF Mystery (January 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971042950
• ISBN-13: 978-0971042957
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #640,080 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The jokes are insiders that all women relate to, April 7, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Mary Clay is a pen name for Linda Tuck-Jenkins. Her first novel, Starpeople: The Sirian Redemption was voted First Runner-Up for Best Visionary Fiction of 2001.

Move over, Steel Magnolias; move over, First Wives Club. "The Daffodils" have arrived. Named for "Divorced and Finally Free of Deceitful, Insensitive, Licentious Scum," the Daffodils are comprised of Penny Sue Park, Ruthie Nichols, and most recently, Rebecca Leigh Stratton, who is newly divorced from her assets stealing; two-timing lawyer husband Zack. The Daffodils decide to take a trip to their college retreat, off New Smyrna Beach, but Leigh discovers a body on the beach within twenty-four hours of their arrival:

"Then, my finger touched something cold and hard. I leaned forward and grabbed... a cold, stiff foot! It was like a bad dream-the one where someone is chasing you, and you try to scream but can't. You open your mouth, straining, yet no sound comes out."

Women are women and men are men in this twist of gender stereotypes. The men are never around when you need them; keep turning up as corpses; and the women have to pick up the pieces, all the while muttering about their connections with the DAFFODILS.

THE TURTLE MOUND MURDER is an entertaining book with strongly defined characters who romp around New Smyrna Beach reliving their college days; tripping over dead bodies; and in general creating havoc and fun. Penned in the best Southern Belle with tongue firmly in cheek, Clay's characters are seen through straight woman Leigh's eyes. Her two pals are flirty and flaky, but she loves them and sees the trio through a string of mishaps that would bowl over a lesser person who was not going through a devastating divorce.

Witty and hilarious, The Turtle Mound Murder engages the reader from the very first page. Mary Clay writes with a sure hand, and Penny Sue, Ruthie and Leigh are all personalities most women have grown up with and can relate to. The jokes are insiders that all women relate to, making this a Shelley choice for a great read.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars These Wacky Women Are A Hoot, July 9, 2003

By A Customer

A divorced friend from New Smyrna Beach insisted that I read this book. As an Evanovich devotee, I was skeptical but complied to keep the peace.

The DAFFODILS are not exactly Stephanie and Lula, but Southern close. (You may have noticed from the headline, I'm Southern.)

Bottom line, this was a quick, funny, thoroughly enjoyable read. The pacing is like Evanovich -- quick, my style. My friend says a sequel is on the way, where these wacko women do Bike Week. That should be a double hoot!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, March 6, 2004

By A Customer

Wonderful reading! Enjoyed it very much. I found it well written and laugh-out-loud funny. Keep up the good work Mary Clay---as I am hooked on the Daffodils!